. . . Technology is never neutral’: POTRAZ chief warns Africa risks cultural colonisation by AI if it fails to shape global rules
By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
VICTORIA FALLS — Africa is the cradle of humanity, the Director General of Zimbabwe’s postal and telecommunications regulator reminded a continental gathering on Tuesday. But if the continent does not act now, it risks becoming invisible in the age of artificial intelligence.
Dr. Gift Machengete, speaking at the ITU Regional Development Forum for Africa 2026 and the African Preparatory Meeting for PP-26 in Victoria Falls, delivered a blunt warning to delegates from across the continent: Africa cannot afford to be a passive consumer of technologies designed elsewhere while others determine the future on its behalf.
“For far too long, Africa has occupied the periphery of the global digital economy despite being home to one of the youngest, fastest-growing, and most innovative populations on earth,” Dr Machengete said.
He argued that the challenge before Africa today is no longer simply about connectivity or technology deployment. The real fight, he said, is about digital sovereignty.
“Connectivity must become a tool for empowerment, innovation, industrialisation, and cultural preservation,” Dr Machengete said. “Every fibre network we deploy, every tower we erect, every rural school we connect, and every young African we equip with digital skills must contribute toward building an Africa that creates, an Africa that innovates, an Africa that influences, and an Africa that leads.”
The POTRAZ chief’s speech comes at a defining moment, he said, when nations are not only competing economically but are increasingly competing to shape the rules, ethics, governance frameworks, and values that will define the intelligent age.
“This is why Africa must have a stronger voice in global discussions on Artificial Intelligence, digital governance, data governance, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies,” Machengete said.
“Not because we seek to stop technological advancement — no nation can stop the tide of innovation — but because Africa must help influence the direction of innovation itself.”
His core warning was stark: technology is never neutral.
“Every technology carries the values, assumptions, philosophies, and cultural perspectives of those who create it,” he said.
“If Africa does not actively participate in shaping Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, then the future may be designed without African values, African cultures, African spirituality, African languages, and African perspectives.”
Delegates from several African nations who spoke to this publication on the sidelines of the forum expressed agreement with Machengete’s diagnosis but acknowledged that the continent faces significant structural challenges in turning rhetoric into reality.
Limited funding for AI research, a brain drain of technical talent to wealthier nations, and fragmented regulatory frameworks across African countries remain major obstacles to achieving the kind of collective influence the POTRAZ chief envisions.
Nevertheless, the African Preparatory Meeting for PP-26 is expected to produce a unified continental position on AI governance ahead of the global Plenipotentiary Conference later this year.
That position, according to multiple delegates, will likely emphasize the need for African representation in international AI standard-setting bodies, requirements for AI systems to respect cultural diversity, and the establishment of African data trusts to ensure that the continent’s data is not exploited without benefit.
Machengete drew a direct line from Africa’s ancient past to its technological future to make his case.
“Civilisation itself traces its origins to this continent. Humanity began here. Africa is not a continent without history. Africa is the beginning of history,” he said. “And because Africa is the cradle of humanity, Africa must also help defend humanity in the age of Artificial Intelligence.”
The question now, as the forum continues in the shadow of Victoria Falls, is whether Africa’s nations can move from shared concern to coordinated action before the window of opportunity closes.
“Africa must not arrive late to that conversation,” Dr Machengete said. “We must converge as a continent to ensure that our voice is heard clearly and collectively within the global digital ecosystem.”
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